Unique Adventure Camp Experiences
By Kristin Marie Bivens
“Ondessonk’s Adventure Camps provide an opportunity for your child to step out of their comfort zone, learn from qualified staff about the hard skills necessary for the adventures while they are at Camp, and take away greater self-esteem and interpersonal skills.”
–Adventure and Teen Camp Coordinator, Jessie Dickerson
Although there are abundant activities for traditional campers to participate in during each session, the Adventure Camp provides additional opportunities for campers to experience. Adventures range from hike-bike-paddle-and-climb and camper versus wild to mountain biking, rock climbing, and surfing.
Adventure and Teen Camp Coordinator, Jessie Dickerson, shared, “Ondessonk’s Adventure Camps provide an opportunity for your child to step out of their comfort zone learn from qualified staff about the hard skills necessary for the adventures while they are at Camp, and take away greater self-esteem and interpersonal skills.”
Besides, Dickerson added: “Adventures are fun!”
Other Adventure Camps include the Smoky Mountain Adventure. Arriving at Camp on Sundays, campers who choose to experience the Smoky Mountain Adventure immediately disembark on the Camp bus for Tennessee. While there, campers backpack, whitewater raft, zip line, and use a high ropes course in the Smoky Mountains.
During the Adventure Camps, experienced staff hold space for campers to reflect on their respective adventures and think about how they worked together as a team. Additionally, small group sizes provide opportunities for staff and campers to get to know both each other and nature.
In addition to those Adventure programs, Ondessonk offers a horse-specific program weekly. Horse Camp focuses on giving campers the basics of taking care of and riding their assigned horse for the week. Horse Adventure dives a little deeper into horsemanship and riding while going on a three night horsepacking trip in the Shawnee National Forest.
Offered weekly, Horse Adventure includes the added bonus of learning about and caring for a new equine friend. Since each camper is assigned their own horse for the week, Horse Adventure campers are instructed by knowledgeable, experienced, and Certified Horsemanship Association trained staff.